Stevenson Draws Up New Plan

SPRINGFIELD — Adlai Stevenson said Wednesday that his gubernatorial candidacy was

``alive and well`` despite the embarrassment of having running mates defeated by disciples of Lyndon LaRouche in the March Democratic primary election.

Speaking before the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Stevenson also called on Gov. James Thomspon to repudiate the LaRouche candidates.

``The LaRouchites are not helping me,`` Stevenson said. ``They are helping Gov. Thomspon. I will not be associated with these candidates. Where does he stand on the apostles of hate and madness?``

Stevenson said he is aware of strong legislative opposition to his idea of changing the Dec. 5 deadline for filing an independent candidacy and indicated he would pursue changing the law in the courts.

Stevenson, who was an hour late for his appearance before the chamber because his plane was delayed, was scheduled to meet the House and Senate caucuses in a joint meeting later Wednesday. Thomspon was scheduled to address the chambers` annual legislative conference Wednesday afternoon.

Stevenson is drawing up a new plan for ousting three-term incumbent Thompson after Democratic voters saddled him with the LaRouche devotees as running mates in the March 18 primary.

The changes range from fundraising and reallocating resources, to searching for new running mates and dealing with heckling at public appearances, such as occurred when LaRouche supporters confronted him with a rendition of the old rock and roll hit ``Happy Together`` as he tried to speak earlier this week.

``When an event like this occurs, it seems to me you have to go back to the drawing boards to try to determine as best you can what kind of unanticipated expenses there may be,`` Larry Hansen, Stevenson`s campaign manager, said Tuesday.

Hansen spent Monday in Washington meeting with Democratic Party officials and aides to potential Democratic presidential candidates to reassure them that Stevenson is in the race to stay and to seek their help in the campaign. ``A lot of people had concluded that, regrettable as the situation was in Illinois, that it might in fact be a lost cause,`` Hansen said. ``I think after talking with them and exploring both strategic and financial ideas, they felt much more buoyant about it, and I came away feeling pretty good myself.`` Terry Michael, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, said it was too early in the year for the party to commit funds, but he said Democrats are now aware that it is important for Stevenson to run a strong campaign to try to defeat Thompson and also to save the rest of the Democratic ticket.

Campaign officials also have had to go back to organizers of fundraising events planned for April and May. ``They just wanted to make sure that we were still on the program. They had to hear it from us directly,`` Hansen said. He views as ``a very good sign`` that $250,000 above what was expected to be collected at the fundraisers has been contributed since the primary. Stevenson has set a target of $3 million for the campaign compared with the $6.5 million expected to be raised by Thompson.

A major expenditure that had not been anticipated before the primary will be for educating voters about splitting their ballots so they vote a mainstream Democratic ticket and then cast ballots for Stevenson, his new running mate for lieutenant governor and his choice for secretary of state, who hope to run as independents.

Other Democrats on the ticket are expected to help in the voter education effort for their own survival, as are the state and national parties, said Hansen, who is seeking support to ``draw the line in Illinois`` against the LaRouche candidates.

In a related matter, House Speaker Michael Madigan (D., Chicago) said Tuesday that most House Democrats do not want Stevenson to attempt a legislative change in the law permitting a later filing deadline for independent candidates(.)